The famous Nike has its headquarters just outside of Portland, a city known for its its overcast weather. A little further south is California — nicknamed the Golden State, of course. So it’s only fitting that Swoosh has set up not one but two partnerships in California to help end the summer. Nike is teaming up with a longstanding label based in Laguna Beach Stussy and the beloved Union Los Angeles store, with a mix of Nike gear with a good old Cali treatment.
Stüssy is focused on remaking a classic, untested silhouette: the 2013 Air Max. The brand specializes in creating unexpected, performance-driven sneakers and elevating them into sought-after shoes. : we’ve seen confusing styles like Air Zoom Spiridon Caged 2 and Air Zoom Kukini get the Stüssy coin and sell out in a flash. However, these reworked Air Max kicks are seen as a weight loss compared to the previously released good-bad kicks.
The sneakers are mostly toned – offered in black, red and pink – with the exception of a few contrasting accents here and there. The result is a highly wearable design with just the right amount of Stüssy flash. In addition to sneakers, there’s also a small collection of co-branded clothing: loose-fit tracksuits, crew-neck socks, t-shirts, hats, and more – all in colors to match the kicks. (If you ever want to buy Nike x Stüssy sweatsuit pinkNow is your chance.)
Courtesy of Stüssy
For the Union collab, the Nike Cortez was reimagined to celebrate the shoe’s 50th anniversary. A fun, colorful mix of woven fabric and suede overlays combined for two pairs of sneakers which will definitely turn some heads. Union owner Chris Gibbs proved his shop can be an important player in Nike’s extended universe. A pair of Union-designed sneakers is always funky and often eccentric — and always loved. (Union Jordan 1 sits on the higher end of recent releases; it still commands more than 1,800 dollars on the secondary market.)
Both Stüssy and Union are no strangers to Nike collaborations. It’s rare that a single month will yield projects from both. Plus, streetwear enthusiasts will remember that back in the day, both labels shared a space called Union of Stüssy. Stüssy’s collab is slated to release on August 5, while Union’s is due on August 10. If there’s ever been time for Swoosh to reach their Californian friends, it’s definitely summer. is that. And adding any of these sneakers to your rotation is a stylish sunny way to brighten up the rest of your summer.
